I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

Isaac Crawford was one of the central antagonists in one of Zenon's novels, a man whose name inspired dread across the world he was living in. He served the Last Empire with great loyalty, holding the esteemed position of State Secretary and operating as the right hand of the Emperor—the Main Antagonist of the story.

In many ways, Isaac Crawford could be considered a secondary antagonist, though his impact was anything but minor. His accomplishments and infamy elevated him to a status rivaling that of the Emperor himself. Isaac was the Empire's enforcer, entrusted with the most critical and brutal tasks. From quelling rebellions within the Empire's borders to dismantling insurrections beyond.

Feared by all, Isaac's reputation extended far and wide. While the Emperor had respect as the supreme authority, Isaac's ruthlessness made him the true embodiment of terror. His name alone was enough to silence dissent and instill fear among even the boldest of people. His contempt for the lower castes—those who dared question the Empire's dominion—was legendary. Any words or actions deemed treasonous were met with swift and merciless execution on Isaac Crawford's orders.

Through his brutal methods, Isaac cemented the Empire's image as a merciless power. He pursued his enemies, employing a meticulous and calculated approach that left no room for escape. Isaac's opponents knew that once they were marked, their death was inevitable.

Though not physically imposing, Isaac possessed a power that set him apart: the Eyes.

***

Haine stared at Ivan through the swirling cloud of dust. Without warning, he stepped forward, his form blurring into near invisibility as he closed the distance between them with inhuman speed.

Even Ludivine, watching intently from a distance, saw only a fleeting shadow. She strained her senses, but Haine's movements were beyond her ability to track. Even if she could perceive him, she doubted her body would be able to react in time.

The air filled with the sound of rapid movements and the sharp clashes of combat, but the details were lost within the dusty haze. Then, after several tense seconds, a figure burst out of the smoke.

It was Haine. Blood poured from one of his eyes, leaving a streak of blood across his face.

"Y–You!" He growled, clutching his bleeding eye as his composure fractured. His face twisted in disbelief.

From the smoke, Ivan emerged calmly, his bow in hand, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Running already? Aren't you supposed to be a proud demon?" He sneered.

Ludivine's gaze shifted to Ivan. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw his eyes faintly glowing with a strange grey light, but she couldn't be certain if it was real or just her imagination playing tricks.

Haine's face contorted further in fury. With a roar, he raised his hand and unleashed a beam of black, corrupted energy. "I'll kill you!"

Ivan moved to raise his bow, but his instincts flared, and he quickly changed course, leaping into the air to avoid the attack.

His arrows couldn't intercepte such attacks.

"It's over!" Haine bellowed, suddenly appearing directly in front of Ivan as he hung midair. His blackened hand surged forward, aiming straight for Ivan's face.

But Ivan tilted his head to the side at the last possible moment, evading the strike easily.

"What?!" Haine sputtered in shock. He was supposed to be faster—how had Ivan outmaneuvered him?

Ivan gave no response. Instead, he swiftly looped the string of his bow around Haine's neck, tightening it with a sharp pull. The string dug into Haine's skin, forcing his head downward. With a fluid motion, Ivan brought the body of the bow down and delivered a brutal knee strike directly to Haine's nose.

"Argh!" Haine staggered back, clutching his face as pain seared through him. His glare burned with hatred as he reached out, grasping at Ivan's arm.

A malicious grin spread across Haine's bloodied face. The transformation was beginning—his ability to corrupt and possess Ivan's body was taking hold. Ivan's arm began to darken, the first visible sign of Haine's power.

But then, Haine's smile faltered.

Something was wrong.

The black corruption spread rapidly along Ivan's arm, writhing like leeches as it oozed out from Haine's body.

"I–Impossible…!"

It wasn't just that the darkness was being absorbed—no, it was something far worse. It was as if Ivan was feeding on him, drawing power from the very corruption Haine wielded.

Which could only mean…

"You…" Haine's words faltered as he stared at Ivan, his expression twisted in utter shock and horror.

Ivan, unfazed, met Haine's gaze with a cold, emotionless stare. Without a word, he pulled his bow forward, tightening the string against Haine's throat.

"Ugh!" Haine choked, blood beginning to seep from the thin line the string carved into his neck. Any more pressure, and he would be beheaded.

Desperate, Haine gripped the bowstring with trembling hands and tore it away, freeing himself. But no sooner had he escaped than his vision filled with Ivan's clenched fist.

-BAM!

Ivan's punch landed squarely on Haine's cheek with bone-crushing force. The impact shattered his cheekbone and sent him hurtling through the air.

-BOOM!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Haine crashed into the ground, forming a small crater as dust billowed into the air around him. He lay motionless for a moment, stunned and battered.

Ludivine watched from a distance, speechless, her gaze shifting to Ivan as he landed nearby.

Ivan glanced down at the torn string of his bow with a faint look of irritation.

"It was a good bow," he muttered, "but not sturdy enough."

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He inspected the broken weapon briefly before casting it aside. "If it had been made of something stronger—perhaps true webbing or a material like tungsten—it would've sliced his head clean off."

On the ground, Haine groaned, his hands braced against the cracked earth as he struggled to push himself upright. Blood dripped from his lips as he coughed violently.

"A–Arghhh!"

How was this happening?

He was feeling pain.

A mere human was making him feel pain.

No, this wasn't right. Haine had seen it—there was something unnatural about Ivan. It was as though he were possessed, yet there was no trace of demonic influence in his demeanor. Ivan remained fully in control.

Obviously Haine never considered Ivan submitting a Demon to his will, even more a Devil so at the end he was confused.

"Kill yourself."

Haine's thoughts screeched to a halt at Ivan's words.

"W–What?" Haine stammered, lifting his gaze. Ivan's expression was as frigid as ever. "I said, kill yourself."

"...!"

Haine's face flushed a deep red, anger and humiliation colliding within him. His pride lay shattered at Ivan's feet.

"I–I am Haine! A 7th Grade Demon! I won't die at the hands of a mere human!!!" He roared, slamming his fists into the ground.

The earth trembled under his power, its surface darkening unnaturally as shadows spread outward like an ink spill.

"What's happening?" Ludivine's voice quivered as she glanced down in panic.

"Ahahaha!!" Haine's maddened laughter rang out. "I'll destroy you, human! If I die, I'll take you with me!"

He anticipated fear, panic, or at least hesitation from Ivan. But there was none. Ivan remained as indifferent as before. Without sparing Haine another glance, he turned toward Ludivine.

"Run."

"What about you? You should run too! What are you doing?!" Ludivine cried.

"I'll follow. Run if you want to live."

Ludivine hesitated, her fists clenching tightly. Then, with a nod, she turned and fled.

Once she was gone, Ivan advanced slowly toward Haine.

"H–How?!" Haine's voice cracked with disbelief. Beneath Ivan's feet, the dark bonds meant to ensnare him had been snapped as if they were nothing more than threads.

"You're no demon," Ivan said.

With a sudden, brutal motion, he drove his foot into Haine's head, slamming it against the ground.

"Ugh!" Haine groaned, his vision blurring.

"Your place is beneath the earth, like the worthless ant you are," Ivan sneered, his voice filled with contempt. His eyes glowed with an unearthly grey hue, and his tone was clearly different.

"M–My Lords…will…ugh…come for you!" Haine gasped, his voice coming unevenly as Ivan pressed his foot harder against his skull.

Ivan's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Let them come. They can all come together."

-SPURT!

Haine's head exploded beneath the pressure, splattering like an overripe fruit.

The darkness that had infected the ground around them shifted as if drawn by an unseen force, flowing into Ivan's body like a river.

Then Ivan raised his hand, flicking his wrist, and black flames erupted from his fingertips. The inferno engulfed Haine's lifeless form entirely, burning so intensely that even his ashes disintegrated.

Not a trace of Haine remained.

A deafening silence fell over the place.

Ivan's gaze shifted to the direction Ludivine had fled. Suddenly, black lightning crackled around his body.

In an instant, he vanished, leaving only the scorched earth behind.

…

…

Ludivine's feet pounded the earth as she ran, faster than she'd ever run before.

Her mind struggled to process what she had just witnessed.

Was it all a dream?

No, it couldn't have been. It was too real, too vivid.

One face loomed in her thoughts: Leon Cromwell.

He had overpowered a fully possessed man who took the Demon Form.

"H—How?"

He was her age, just like her, and yet he had defeated Haine with such effortless ease.

Panting, Ludivine slowed to a stop, her hands resting on her knees as she tried to steady her breath.

"I have to inform the professor—"

"Inform whom?"

"...!"

Ludivine froze, her heart skipping a beat. She looked up to see Ivan standing before her, arms crossed, casually leaning against a tree as though he had always been there.

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